Tension gripped parts of Benue State on Thursday, May 29, 2025, as unidentified gunmen stormed the premises of Government Secondary School, Odugbo, disrupting ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) activities. The invasion, which occurred around 1:20 p.m., sent shockwaves through the local community and raised fresh concerns over the safety of students in conflict-prone regions.
According to Zagazola Makama, a renowned counter-terrorism analyst and security expert, the attack happened in broad daylight, just as final-year students were seated for one of their critical WAEC papers. The sudden appearance of the armed assailants forced school officials and students into panic, with many reportedly fleeing the examination halls in fear for their lives.
As of the time of filing this report, the motive behind the intrusion remains unclear, and no group has officially claimed responsibility. However, the incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of educational institutions in parts of the Middle Belt region, where schools have increasingly become targets in the wave of insecurity plaguing Nigeria.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen arrived at the school premises in large numbers and caused commotion before vanishing into surrounding areas. While there were no immediate reports of casualties or abductions, the psychological trauma inflicted on the students—already under the pressure of writing a national examination—cannot be overstated.
Community leaders and local authorities have condemned the incident and are calling on both the Benue State Government and federal security agencies to launch an urgent investigation into the attack and bolster security around examination centres across the region.
This latest breach comes amid broader national concerns over school safety, especially in states grappling with the threats of armed banditry, insurgency, and communal clashes. The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has yet to issue an official statement, but stakeholders in the education sector are urging swift action to ensure that affected students are not academically disadvantaged.
Parents, teachers, and civil society groups are calling for improved coordination between security agencies and education ministries to prevent a recurrence of such incidents, particularly during crucial national examinations that determine students’ future academic and career paths.
As of now, the Benue State Police Command has reportedly deployed operatives to the area to restore calm and ensure that the school environment is secured for the continuation of examinations in the coming days.
